GB2533460A

GB2533460A - Wearable technology as an item of clothing

Info

Publication number: GB2533460A
Application number: GB1518226.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jonathan Bernstein Mark
Original assignee: Wearable Technology Ltd
Current assignee: Wearable Technology Ltd
Priority date: 2013-12-24
Filing date: 2013-12-24
Publication date: 2016-06-22
Anticipated expiration: 2033-12-24
Also published as: US20150176825A1; GB201323058D0; CN204733932U; GB2521652B; GB201518226D0; GB2521652A; GB2533460B; US10539312B2

Abstract

A jacket, with enhanced visibility, has material elements 201, 202 connected by stitched seams 402, 403, and provided with an illuminating device (103, figure 7). An electrical source for energising said illuminating device, a detection device and a conductor 301 for conveying electricity are included in the garment. The illuminating device is lit upon activation of the detection device. A substantial proportion of the conductor 301 is secured within the seams 402, 403. The jacket may be used by a cyclist and may be fitted with right and left direction indicators activated by a detector which is triggered when the cyclists raises one or other arm.

Description

Wearable Technology as an Item of Clothing The present invention relates to a wearable item for enhancing visibility.

The present invention also relates to a method of fabricating an item of clothing for enhancing the visibility of a user.

It is known to provide apparatus for enhancing the visibility of a user, such as a cyclist. Items may be attached to the cyclist personally or items, such as lights, may be attached to the bicycle.

It is generally accepted that motorists pose the biggest danger to cyclists, particularly on busy roads. Problems exist in terms of making a cyclist and other road users visible.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an item of clothing, comprising: a frurality of material elements connected by stitched seams; at least one illuminating device; an electrical source for energising said illuminating device; a detection device; and a conductor for conducting electricity from said electrical source of to said illuminating device upon activation of said detection device, wherein a substantial proportion of said conductor is secured within said seams.

In an embodiment, the item of clothing is configured substantially as a jacket.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of fabricating an item of clothing, comprising the steps of: constructing an illumination system, comprising a right detection device, a left detection device, a right indicator device, a left indicator device, a housing and a wiring loom connecting said housing to said indicator devices and said detection devices; assembling material components, wherein said material components are configured to be joined together by stitches forming a plurality of seams; and securing at least a portion of said wiring loom to said item within one or more of said seams.

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows an illumination system; Figure 2 illustrates a first stage in an assembly process; Figure 3 shows a second stage of said assembly process; Figure 4 shows a third stage of the assembly process; Figure 5 illustrates the construction of a jacket; Figure 6 illustrates the application of indicators; Figure 7 shows further items added to a jacket; Figure 8 illustrates items added to the rear of a jacket; Figure 9 illustrates an arm being raised; Figure 10 illustrates an activation of an illumination device in response to an arm being raised; Figure 11 illustrates continued activation on returning an arm to a * * Figure 12 illustrates reflectors on the rear of the jacket.

**** 15 Figure 1 * * **** * An illumination system is illustrated in Figure 1 that has been * * constructed with a right detection device 101, a left detection device 102, a * * *a* ** * * right indicator device 103, a left indicator device 104, a housing 105 and a * ** * * * * ** wiring loom 106. The wiring loom connects the housing 105 to the indicator devices 103, 104 and to the detection devices 101, 102. * **

* * * The illumination system of Figure 1 is shown as a front view such that, *** * * *** ** * IMPS lbei * from the perspective of the user, detection device 101 would be on the users *** ** * ****** left; but actually shown to the right in Figure 1. * *

**** In use, the raising of a cyclists right arm is detected by detection **** * ***** * 25 device 101, possibly taking the form of rocker switch, thereby closing a **t* * * *** circuit, such that it is possible for this condition to be detected by circuitry * .* a* *** * contained within the housing 105. The circuitry will then energise illuminating * * ** ** . **** ** * : device 103 such that indicating device 103 is seen to flash. In an ** * ** embodiment, indicating device 103 includes one or more amber coloured light emitting diode (LED) devices. Thus, upon raising a right arm, indicator 103 is caused to flash in a way that would be recognisable to a motorist as * ** * * * *** control position; and * an indication to the effect that the cyclist intends to turn right.

In an embodiment, a second right indicator 107 is provided, such that the first indicator 103 may be positioned to the front of the jacket and the second indicator 107 may be positioned on the back of the jacket.

Thus, left indicator 104 may be positioned on the front of a jacket, with a second left indictor 108 being positioned on the back of the jacket. Thus, in response to detection device 102 detecting that the left arm is raised, both LEDs 104 and 108 will be energised such that amber flashes are seen on the left side of the cyclist.

To improve overall visibility, a first permanent front LED array 109 is provided along with a second permanently lit frontal array 110.

A permanently lit rear array 111 is also provided, preferably including a plurality of red LED devices.

In an embodirnent, the loom 106 is connected-to the housing 105 by a detachable plug 112 that may be attached to and then detached from an appropriately configured socket within housing 105.

In addition to housing a control circuit, the housing also contains a battery of energising cells. These cells may take the form of replaceable cells or they make take the form of rechargeable cells. In the embodiment of Figure 1, rechargeable cells are included that are recharged via a recharge socket 113. In an embodiment, recharged socket 113 takes the form of a conventional mobile device charging port, such as a USB socket. In this way, it is possible for the rechargeable cells to be recharged using readily available recharging equipment, as used for the charging of other mobile devices such as mobile cellular telephones.

In an embodiment, a toggle button 114 is included for energizing and de-energizing the device manually.

Figure 2 In an embodiment, the item of clothing is assembled from material components. As illustrated in Figure 2, this includes a first material component 201 and a second material component 202. These are configured to be joined together by stitches thereby forming a seam. To construct the jacket, many seams of this type are required. Given that several layers of material are included at the seams, the seams represent a relatively strong region of the jacket, less susceptible to being strained in response to stresses applied thereto during the use of the jacket whilst cycling.

It has been appreciated that wiring loom 106 may become damaged or detached if care is not taken to ensure that the loom is secured to the jacket. Thus, in accordance with the present invention, at least a portion of the wiring loom is secured to the item within one or more of these seams. Figure 3.

Having positioned component 201 in place, alongside material component 202, a portion 301 of the wiring loom 106 is placed over material component 201. In this embodiment, the component 301 is held in place exclusively by the stitching used to connect the individual material components. However, in alternative embodiments, additional tape may be included, possibly securing component 301 to component 201 prior to the application of material component 202.

Figure 4 Having located section 301 over material component 201, material component 202 is then laid over the combination to provide a region of overlap, indicated by region 401.

A seam is then formed so as to hold material component 201 securely to material component 202 by a first row of stitches 402 and a second row of stitches 403. As shown in Figure 4, the loom section 301 is held securely between said first row of stitches 402 and said second row of stitches 403. The example shown in Figure 4 may be considered as a plain seam. In an alternative approach, a French seam is deployed, so that raw edges of the material are fully enclosed.

Thus, in the embodiment described above, the conductor is a. wire secured substantially within the seams. However, in an alternative embodiment, the wire could be secured substantially to the seam positions.

In an alternative embodiment, the conductor is provided within a tape and the tape is secured substantially at the seam positions. In the embodiment, the tape may include a plurality of conduction threads and subsets of these plurality of treads may be connected in parallel to provide conduction paths of sufficiently resistance.

Figure 5 io In an embodiment, the item of clothing takes the form of a jacket.

Furthermore, in an embodiment, the jacket is constructed from a plurality of layers. Thus, an internal layer or mesh 501 may be attached to the external layer 502, possibly using high visibility florescent material, thereby increasing the visibility of the jacket during the daytime.

In an embodiment, the housing 105 is detachable so as to allow the housing to be removed. In an embodiment, the connectors are water resistant, such that is should be possible to remove the housing and thereafter allow the jacket to be washed using conventional washing techniques.

In use, housing 105 may be restrained within a pocket 503 constructed within an internal surface 504 of the jacket.

Figure 6 Having located the loom 106 within the jacket such that, wherever possible, the wiring loom is secured to the jacket by seams formed within the jacket, it is necessary to connect the detecting devices 101, 102 and the indicating devices 103, 104 etc. As shown in Figure 6, indicating device 103 is located on the front upper arm of the jacket. Indicator device 109 is located towards the collar of the jacket.

In this embodiment, each indicator device includes three LED devices configured to emit amber light when energized. Thus, in response to detector 101 detecting that the right arm haS been raised, indicator 103 will be energized periodically in order to create a flashing amber light. A similar device, device 107, is provided to the rear of the right arm.

LED device 109 is configured to emit white light and remains constantly energized to illuminate the cyclist.

Figure 7 Indicating device 103 and illuminating device 109 are also shown in Figure 7. Figure 7 shows the full jacket and therefore includes indicating device 104 and illuminating device 110. Each of these devices has been attached to the jacket and in an embodiment, the devices comprise a plurality of light emitting diodes.

In this embodiment, reflective materials 701 have been added to the arms and similar reflective materials 702 have been added to the torso. These reflective materials 701, 702 improve night time visibility and may include retro-reflective materials.

Figure 8 The rear of the jacket shown in Figure 7 is illustrated in Figure 8. Rear reflective elements 801 are included to the sides of the jacket and additional reflective elements 802 are included towards the bottom of the jacket.

Illuminator 111 is also included towards the bottom of the jacket and comprises, in this example, five LED devices 803 configured to emit red light. Figure 8 also illustrates the position of the left rear indicator 107 and the right rear indicator 108. Again, the left rear indicator 107 and the right rear indicator 108 include, in this example, three LED devices 804 configured to emit amber light. Thus, when the left arm is raised, indicator 107 will flash and when the right arm is raised, indicator 108 will flash.

The jacket is an example of a wearable item for enhancing visibility and the invention could be applied to other items, such as a vest, a shirt, a jacket, a glove or a rucksack. Material elements are connected together by stitched seams and at least one illuminating device is provided along with a source of electrical power. A conductor conducts electrical power from the source of electrical power to the illuminating device and a substantial portion of the conductor is secured at positions of the seams.

Figure 9 A jacket for enhancing the visibility of a user is shown, in use, in Figure 9. Right detection device 101 identifies the raising of a right arm. Right indicator light 103 is configured to indicate in response to identifying the right arm being raised'. Similarly, left detection device 102 is configured to identify the raising of the left arm. The left indicator device 104 is configured to indicate in response to identifying the raising of the left arm.

The housing 105 contains the power supply and the control circuit and remains protected, when the jacket is closed although allowing easy access in order for the device to be energized or de-energized by the activation of toggle button 104.

As described with reference to Figures 2 to 5, wires connect the housing to the detection devices and the indicators and these wires are restrained within seams sewn into the item. As shown in Figure 9, the item of clothing may, in an embodiment, take the form of a jacket.

In an embodiment, the detection devices 101, 102 include mechanical devices such that each mechanical device is moveable between a first position, as shown by the left arm in Figure 9, and a second position, when an arm is raised to indicate an intention to turn; as shown by the right arm in Figure 9.

Thus, in response to the right arm being raised as shown in Figure 9, indicator 103, comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes, emits light indicating that the cyclist wishes to turn right. To be consistent with accepted practice for motor vehicles, the indicator lights may be amber and may flash periodically.

Figure 10 As the right arm is raised, indicator 103 will flash amber; in a preferred embodiment, a similar indicator 107 on a rear portion of the arm will also flash. Thus, in this way, the indication can be seen by a motorist approaching the cyclist from the front or approaching the cyclist from behind.

Figure 11 In accordance with accepted practice, a cyclist will raise an arm indicating an intention to turn in the direction of the raised arm. In order to perform the manoeuvre, the cyclist would usually return their raised arm to the handlebars, as illustrated in Figure 11. In an embodiment, a delay or monostable circuit is provided such that, for a period of time (possibly ten seconds), indicator 103 continues to flash after the right arm has been returned to the handlebars. Thus, as the cyclist turns, the indicator continues to flash.

Given that it is desirable for this flashing to continue, for the duration of the turn, it is preferable to locate indicator 103 towards the top of the arm in preference to being around the position of the wrist. Thus, while a position at the wrist would be desirable when the arm is extended, as illustrated in Figure 9, it is preferable for the indicator to be higher up the arm when the hand is returned to the handlebars, as illustrated in Figure 11. However, in an alternative embodiment, it would be possible to include indicators at both locations.

Figure 12 As described with reference to Figure 8, rear-reflector 802 and rear illuminator 111 are positioned towards the bottom of the jacket. Again, in some applications, it may be preferable to position indicator 111 higher up, such that its visibility to motorists is optimised. However, in the embodiment of Figure 12, indicator 111 is positioned towards the bottom of the jacket such that the user may carry a rucksack 1201 or similar item without obscuring indicator 111.

A wearable item has been described for use by cyclists. However, it should be appreciated that other situations may arise for alternative users being provided with a wearable item having at least one illuminating device thereby enhancing the visibility of the user. Thus, wearable items of this type could be used for other sporting activities or other manual activities performed in the vicinity of motor vehicles.

Claims

Claims 1. An item of clothing, comprising: a plurality of material elements connected by stitched seams; at least one illuminating device; an electrical source for energising said illuminating device; a detection device; and a conductor for conducting electricity from said electrical source to said illuminating device upon activation of said detection device, wherein a substantial proportion of said conductor is secured within said seams.
2. The item of clothing of claim 1, configured as a jacket.
3. The item of clothing of claim 2, wherein said jacket is constructed from a plurality of layers.
4. The item of clothing of claim 3, including an internal mesh layer.
5. The item of clothing of claim 3 or claim 4, including a high visibility florescent outer layer.
6. The item of clothing of any of claims 1 to 5, including a housing, wherein said housing is removable.
7. The item of clothing of claim 6, wherein said housing is detached from water resistant connectors.
8. The item of clothing of claim 6 or claim 7, including a pocket for restraining said housing.
9. The item of clothing of any of claims 1 to 8, wherein said illuminating device is a light emitting diode.
10. The item of clothing of claim 9, including a plurality of light emitting devices configured to emit a first light colour and a second light colour.
11. A method of fabricating a wearable item, comprising the steps of: constructing an illumination system, comprising a detection device, an illuminating device and conductors connecting said detection device to said illuminating device; assembling material components, wherein said material components are configured to be joined together by stitches forming a plurality of seams; and securing a substantial portion of said conductors within said seams.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein said item is constructed from a plurality of layers.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein an outer layer is formed from a high visibility material.
14. The method of any of claims 11 to 13, including the step of attaching reflective elements.
15. The method of any of claims 11 to 14, including the step of adding additional illuminating components.
16. The method of claim 15, including a housing.
17. The method of any of claims 11 to 16, further comprising the step of connecting said loom to said housing by a de-connectable connector to facilitate the removal of said housing,
18. The method of any of claims 11 to 17, wherein: said housing is inserted into a pocket in said item; and said housing is removable 'rpm said pocket.